This ought to be a verifiable claim, thanks to Street View. I looked around the airport[0] and in[1] various[2] streets[3]. The images are from last year, but they don’t show cash changers with either tether or BTC logos. I did end up finding one[4] after searching through seven, although it is dedicated to cryptocurrencies (it was next to a cash exchange, it isn't one), and its website states this[5]:

> Is exchanging cryptocurrency legal in Turkey? Yes, it is legal to buy, sell or trade your crypto money as long as crypto money is not used to pay goods or services.

They also mention they only pay out in USD. That makes it sound like the only possible use is for a Russian to convert Rubles to BTC in their home country, exchange BTC with USD there, then go next door to exchange their USD with Lira. That is so heavily tied to sanctions that it can explain why actual cash exchanges don’t support cryptocurrencies.

[0]: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9774298,28.820529,2a,75y,324...

[1]: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0080274,28.9761991,3a,15y,34...

[2]: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0166738,28.9509347,3a,88.5y,...

[3]: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0150099,28.9752954,3a,25.8y,...

[4]: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0086973,28.9713568,3a,60y,64...

[5]: https://nakitcoins.com/en